Magnolia plant named ‘Centennial Blush’

ABSTRACT

A new  Magnolia  plant variety, ‘Centennial Blush’, is provided. ‘Centennial Blush’ is a new and distinct cultivar of the plant  Magnolia stellata , which is characterized by dense conical pyramidal habit, large 12 to 14 cm wide flowers composed of 46 tepals, flower bud development at most nodes resulting in heaviest flowering of any known varieties of  Magnolia stellata , and ability to set numerous flower buds as a 2 to 3-year-old plant.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘CentennialBlush’ is a Magnolia plant of the species Magnolia stellata.

Variety denomination: The new Magnolia plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘Centennial Blush’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of the plant Magnolia stellata, hereafter referred to as‘Centennial Blush’, as herein described and illustrated.

The new Magnolia plant originated from open-pollinated seed of‘Centennial’ (unpatented). The original plant is a conical-pyramidal,full flower plant about 10 years old and 3.6 m by 1.8 m in size. Theseedlings were planted in containers and selections were made in March2010 at former College Station Hydrangea Garden in College Station, Tex.

Asexual reproduction by traditional cuttings has shown that thedistinguishing characteristics of this new variety ‘Centennial Blush’are stable and reproduced true-to-type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Magnolia plant variety ‘Centennial Blush’ has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the distinct characteristics of the new Magnolia plant variety‘Centennial Blush’:

-   -   1. Dense conical pyramidal habit.    -   2. Large, 12 to 14 cm wide flowers composed of 46 tepals.    -   3. Flower bud development at most nodes resulting in heaviest        flowering of any known varieties of Magnolia stellata.    -   4. Ability to set numerous flower buds as a 2 to 3-year-old        plant.

Compared to other varieties of Magnolia stellata, the new plant variety‘Centennial Blush’ displayed heavier flowering with flower buddevelopment at most nodes. Compared to ‘Centennial’ (28 to 32 tepals)and ‘Lyle's Legacy’ (about 29 tepals) per flower, the new variety‘Centennial Blush’ had more tepals (46 tepals) per flower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens ofthe new variety ‘Centennial Blush’. The colors are as nearly true as isreasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Centennial Blush’.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘CentennialBlush’.

FIG. 3 is a close-up photograph of the flowers of the new variety‘Centennial Blush’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristicsof the new variety ‘Centennial Blush’. Where dimensions, sizes, colors,and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that suchcharacteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accuratelyas practicable. The descriptions reported herein are largely fromspecimen plants at Watkinsville, Ga. Data were obtained on plants thatwere 4 years old.

PLANT

-   Habit: Deuce conical pyramidal.

TRUNK

-   Color: About Greyed-orange RHS 177D; coated with a moss about    Yellow-green RHS 144A.-   Diameter: 90 mm.-   Texture: Rough.

STEMS

-   First year: Color: About Brown RHS 200B. Diameter: 2 mm. Pubescence:    None; Gray waxiness. Exfoliation: None. Shape: Round. Pith: Type:    Solid. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: About White RHS 155A. Odor: None.    Lenticels: Number: 10 to 15. Shape: Linear-rounded. Size: 1 to 2 mm    long, ½ mm wide. Color: Orange-white RHS 159C. Orientation:    Vertical. Internode length: 3 to 4 cm.-   Second Year: Color: About Greyed-orange RHS 165A. Diameter: 3 mm.    Exfoliation: None; Presence of gray glaucous waxiness.

VEGETATIVE BUDS

-   Arrangement: Alternate.-   Type: Single scale; stalked.-   Size:-   Average at maturity:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 15 to 17 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 6 to 8 mm.-   Scale number: 1.-   Scale color: About Yellow-green RHS 152A.-   Position/disposition: Flat against stem; appressed.-   Number at node: Vegetative; 1.-   Pubescence: Densely wooly pubescent; About White RHS 155C and about    Greyed-brown RHS N199C.-   Shape: Elliptical; ovoid.

LEAF SCAR

-   Shape: Heart-shaped.-   Vascular bundle traces: 3.-   Pubescence: None.-   Position of bud: Sits on top.-   Color differentiation: About Green-yellow RHS 161D.-   Size:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 1 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 4 mm.

TRUNK OR LARGE STEMS

-   First year:    -   -   Color.—About Brown RHS 200B.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Pubescence.—None; Grey waxiness.        -   Exfoliation.—None.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Pith.—Type: Solid. Diameter: Approximately 2 mm. Color:            About White 155A.        -   Odor.—None.        -   Lenticels.—Number: 10 to 15. Shape: Linear-rounded. Size:            Length: Approximately 1 to 2 mm. Width: Approximately            0.5 mm. Color: About Orange-white RHS 159C. Orientation:            Vertical.-   Internode length: Approximately 30 to 40 mm.-   Second year:    -   -   Color.—Greyed-orange RHS 165A.        -   Diameter—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Exfoliation.—None; presence of gray glaucous waxiness.

LEAF

-   Color at emergence: Upper: About Yellow-green RHS 144A. Lower: About    Yellow-green RHS 144A. Emerging leaves are very translucent.-   Color during summer season:    -   -   Upper.—About Green RHS 137B.        -   Lower.—About Green RHS 138B.-   Blade size:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 10 to 15 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 3 to 5 mm.-   Apex: Sub-acute to rounded.-   Base: Cunerae.-   Margin: Entire.-   Shape: Elliptical-spatulate.-   Veins: 12 to 15 per side; deeply impressed mid vein.-   Pubescence: Glabrous on both surfaces.

PETIOLE

-   Length: Approximately 3.5 mm.-   Color: About Green RHS 138B.-   Pubescence: Glabrous.

FLOWER BUDS

-   Size: Early: Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width: Approximately    1 cm. At opening: Length: Approximately 3 cm. Width: Approximately    1.5 cm.-   Color: Early: About Yellow-green RHS 146B. At opening: About    Yellow-green RHS 152B.-   Hair color: Early: About White RHS 155C. At opening: About White RHS    155C.-   Shape: Ovoid.-   Pubescence: Densely silky fine pubescent; About White RHS 155C and    about Greyed-brown 199A.

FLOWER

-   Inflorescences:-   Type: Simple.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 11 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 11 cm.-   Size of fully open flower: Approximately 12 to 14 cm across.-   Color at emergence: About Purple RHS 77B.-   Color at full bloom: About Red-purple RHS 69D with a stripe of    Purple RHS 77B.-   Color at fading: About Greyed-brown RHS N199D at senescence.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Color.—About Greyed-green RHS 195A.-   Number of individual flowers per inflorescence: 1.-   Fragrance: Fragrant at full bloom.-   Tepals:-   Number per flower: Average: 46; Varying from 38 to 56.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—46 to 55 mm; Average: 47 mm.        -   Width.—8 to 17 mm; Average: 11 mm.-   Shape: Strap-shaped (oblanceolate); concave near apex; broadest    above the middle; each tepal with a long extended triangular bar.-   Apex: Obtuse.-   Base: Acute.-   Margin: Entire.-   Pubescence: None.-   Texture: Waxy; smooth.-   Color at peak of bloom:    -   -   Upper surface.—About White RHS N155B.        -   Lower surface.—About Red-purple RHS 69D with a stripe of            Purple RHS 77B.-   Corolla:-   Color: Deepest colored at base; lighter colored and narrowing to a    thin pencil-thick line at apex.    -   -   Exterior color.—Base: About Red-purple RHS 70B. Tip: About            Purple RHS 75B.        -   Interior color.—About White RHS 155D.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES

-   Number per flower: 32, 31, 40, 33.-   Color:    -   -   Upper surface.—Top: Yellow-white RHS 158A. Base: Purple RHS            75D.        -   Lower surface.—Top: Yellow-white RHS 158A. Base: Red-purple            RHS 70A.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—8 to 10 mm.        -   Width.—1 to 2 mm.-   Stamen:-   Number: 55.-   Shape: Linear with curve.-   Color:    -   -   Exterior.—Top: About Greyed-white RHS 152. Base: About            Greyed-purple RHS 72B.        -   Interior.—About Greyed-white RHS 155C.-   Size: Length: 0.8 to 1.0 cm. Width: 0.1 to 0.15 cm.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES Pistil

-   Number: 40 to 50.-   Size: Approximately 13 mm in length.-   Gynoecium:-   Size:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1 cm.-   Stigma:-   Color: About Red-purple RHS 63A at tip.-   Style:-   Color: About Yellow-green RHS 149D.-   Ovary:-   Color: About Yellow-green RHS 144C.

1. A new and distinct variety of Magnolia stellata plant named‘Centennial Blush’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.